Hypertext Webster Gateway: "parallel"

From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)

Parallel \Par"al*lel\, n. (Elec.)
That arrangement of an electrical system in which all
positive poles, electrodes, terminals, etc., are joined to
one conductor, and all negative poles, etc., to another
conductor; -- called also {multiple}. Opposed to {series}.

Note: Parts of a system so arranged are said to be in
parallel or in multiple.

From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)

Parallel \Par"al*lel\, a. [F. parall[`e]le, L. parallelus, fr.
Gr. ?; ? beside + ? of one another, fr. ? other, akin to L.
alius. See {Allien}.]
1. (Geom.) Extended in the same direction, and in all parts
equally distant; as, parallel lines; parallel planes.

Revolutions . . . parallel to the equinoctial.
--Hakluyt.

Note: Curved lines or curved planes are said to be parallel
when they are in all parts equally distant.

2. Having the same direction or tendency; running side by
side; being in accordance (with); tending to the same
result; -- used with to and with.

When honor runs parallel with the laws of God and
our country, it can not be too much cherished.
--Addison.

3. Continuing a resemblance through many particulars;
applicable in all essential parts; like; similar; as, a
parallel case; a parallel passage. --Addison.

{Parallel bar}.
(a) (Steam Eng.) A rod in a parallel motion which is
parallel with the working beam.
(b) One of a pair of bars raised about five feet above the
floor or ground, and parallel to each other, -- used
for gymnastic exercises.

{Parallel circles of a sphere}, those circles of the sphere
whose planes are parallel to each other.

{Parallel columns}, or {Parallels} (Printing), two or more
passages of reading matter printed side by side, for the
purpose of emphasizing the similarity or discrepancy
between them.

{Parallel forces} (Mech.), forces which act in directions
parallel to each other.

{Parallel motion}.
(a) (Mach.) A jointed system of links, rods, or bars, by
which the motion of a reciprocating piece, as a piston
rod, may be guided, either approximately or exactly in
a straight line. --Rankine.
(b) (Mus.) The ascending or descending of two or more
parts at fixed intervals, as thirds or sixths.

{Parallel rod} (Locomotive Eng.), a metal rod that connects
the crank pins of two or more driving wheels; -- called
also {couping rod}, in distinction from the connecting
rod. See Illust. of {Locomotive}, in App. -- {Parallel
ruler}, an instrument for drawing parallel lines, so
constructed as to have the successive positions of the
ruling edge parallel to each other; also, one consisting
of two movable parts, the opposite edges of which are
always parallel.

{Parallel sailing} (Naut.), sailing on a parallel of
latitude.

{Parallel sphere} (Astron. & Geog.), that position of the
sphere in which the circles of daily motion are parallel
to the horizon, as to an observer at either pole.

{Parallel vise}, a vise having jaws so guided as to remain
parallel in all positions.

From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)

Parallel \Par"al*lel\, v. i.
To be parallel; to correspond; to be like. [Obs.] --Bacon.

From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)

Parallel \Par"al*lel\, n.
1. A line which, throughout its whole extent, is equidistant
from another line; a parallel line, a parallel plane, etc.

Who made the spider parallels design, Sure as De
Moivre, without rule or line ? --Pope.

2. Direction conformable to that of another line,

Lines that from their parallel decline. --Garth.

3. Conformity continued through many particulars or in all
essential points; resemblance; similarity.

Twixt earthly females and the moon All parallels
exactly run. --Swift.

4. A comparison made; elaborate tracing of similarity; as,
Johnson's parallel between Dryden and Pope.

5. Anything equal to, or resembling, another in all essential
particulars; a counterpart.

None but thyself can be thy parallel. --Pope.

6. (Geog.) One of the imaginary circles on the surface of the
earth, parallel to the equator, marking the latitude;
also, the corresponding line on a globe or map.

7. (Mil.) One of a series of long trenches constructed before
a besieged fortress, by the besieging force, as a cover
for troops supporting the attacking batteries. They are
roughly parallel to the line of outer defenses of the
fortress.

8. (Print.) A character consisting of two parallel vertical
lines (thus, ||) used in the text to direct attention to a
similarly marked note in the margin or at the foot of a
page.

{Limiting parallels}. See under {Limit}, v. t.

{Parallel of altitude} (Astron.), one of the small circles of
the sphere, parallel to the horizon; an almucantar.

{Parallel of declination} (Astron.), one of the small circles
of the sphere, parallel to the equator.

{Parallel of latitude}.
(a) (Geog.) See def. 6. above.
(b) (Astron.) One of the small circles of the sphere,
parallel to the ecliptic.

From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)

Parallel \Par"al*lel\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Paralleled}; p. pr.
& vb. n. {Paralleling}.]
1. To place or set so as to be parallel; to place so as to be
parallel to, or to conform in direction with, something
else.

The needle . . . doth parallel and place itself upon
the true meridian. --Sir T.
Browne.

2. Fig.: To make to conform to something else in character,
motive, aim, or the like.

His life is paralleled Even with the stroke and line
of his great justice. --Shak.

3. To equal; to match; to correspond to. --Shak.

4. To produce or adduce as a parallel. [R.] --Locke.

My young remembrance can not parallel A fellow to
it. --Shak.

From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)

parallel
adj 1: being everywhere equidistant and not intersecting; "parallel
lines never converge"; "concentric circles are
parallel"; "dancers in two parallel rows" [ant: {perpendicular},
{oblique}]
2: (computer science) of or relating to the simultaneous
performance of multiple operations; "parallel processing"
[syn: {in parallel(p)}]
n 1: something having the property of being analogous to
something else [syn: {analogue}, {analog}]
2: an imaginary line around the Earth parallel to the equator
[syn: {latitude}, {line of latitude}, {parallel of
latitude}]
v 1: be parallel to; "Their roles are paralleled by ours"
2: make or place parallel to something; " They paralleled the
ditch to the highway." [syn: {collimate}]
3: duplicate or match; "The polished surface twinned his face
and chest in reverse" [syn: {twin}, {duplicate}]


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